San Diego  Sheriff’s officials are asking for the public’s help to locate a man scamming grocery stores during money order purchases.

The thief goes to the guest services window at Albertsons markets and asks to buy a $500 money order and then hands the cashier a stack of $20 bills totaling just $480, sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Hampton said.

After the clerk counts the money and tells the man it came up short, he takes the stack back and adds in the missing money while at the same time surreptitiously pocketing six to 8 $20 bills, Hampton said.

The cashiers do not recount the money and issue a money order for $500, Hampton said.

The man has hit six Albertsons in El Cajon, Santee, Alpine, Lemon Grove and San Marcos between Jan. 29 and April 18.

He is described as Latino or Middle Eastern and between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall, about 190 to 200 pounds with short black hair.

In one of the thefts he was wearing a white dress shirt, dark slacks and wire rimmed glasses.